The Lake of the Ozarks beach at Camp Heritage in Missouri rippled with more than sunlight this past summer as seven people gave their lives to God through baptism during Teen River Adventure Camp’s powerful week of spiritual transformation in July.
Pastor Anthony Rudalf of Kansas City Central and Independence churches began that camp week quietly, with tired campers fresh from river adventures. But by Thursday night, everything changed when he shared his own testimony of overcoming addiction and crime through God’s grace.
“If God can rescue me from a life of drugs, alcohol, crime and hurting others, He can help you too—right now,” Pastor Anthony told the teens.
After Friday night’s Passion Play depicting Christ’s life, death and resurrection, four girls quietly stood during prayer, ready for baptism. Later that evening, following a Spirit-led prompting, Pastor Anthony visited a cabin where his words, “Real men stand for Jesus,” moved two boys to also choose baptism.
A Sabbath of celebration
That Sabbath afternoon, families gathered at the lakeside for the baptism service. Pastors Jeffrey Fender and Anthony Rudalf baptized the six campers, followed by staff member Brock, who was baptized by his stepfather, Pastor Mike Carner.
But the Spirit wasn’t finished. When Pastor Jeff made a final appeal, Grant, the father of one of the girls, raised his hand and immediately entered the lake for baptism, with his daughter nearby, crying tears of joy.
As the camp staff sang The Commission on the beach, the celebration concluded with everyone gathering around those who had been baptized to pray over their new journey with Christ.
Seven souls left Camp Heritage forever changed—living proof that when we seek God first, all other things follow. During summer 2025, 16 total campers celebrated new life through baptism at Camp Heritage, with each week featuring unique pastoral messages centered on Matt. 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Rachel Ashworth is a writer from Missouri.
